“More product and less loads” for Samworth Brothers Distribution as Buffaload double-deckers join the fleet

Samworth Brothers, the Leicester-based food producer, has added nine double deck temperature controlled trailers from Cambridgeshire operator Buffaload Logistics which, says the company, will further reduce road miles, cut handling times and increase overall efficiency for its 200-strong trailer fleet – 54 of which are refrigerated double-deckers. 

The trailers are on hire from Buffaload’s specialist temperature controlled rental fleet, which comprises urban trailers and double-deckers. With a unique sloping front bulkhead, the double-deckers are aerodynamically designed to reduce fuel and cut CO2. For typical trunking operations, up to a mile per gallon can be saved, therefore making an appreciable addition to the bottom line.

Delivering to retailer RDCs throughout the UK, Samworth’s double-deckers are specified with variable height, hydraulically operated floors to maximise pallet capacity.  Typically, 40 pallets can be loaded on one trailer which reduces the vehicle requirement and optimises booking times. Moreover, Buffaload’s double-deckers are up to 60% greater in volume than a conventional temperature controlled trailer.

“It’s all about load consolidation and best use of transport resources” comments Samworth Brothers Distribution Operations Director, Richard Smith. “With 13 businesses producing and delivering  a wide range of premium chilled foods, from Ginsters pasties to Dickinson & Morris pork pies, our ongoing objective is to deliver more product but with fewer journeys and faster turn-round times. Double deck loading is undoubtedly the optimum solution.” 

To accommodate the additional height of a Buffaload double–decker, it is often necessary to adapt existing loading bays. For this, Buffaload provides an end-to-end service including survey, design and loading bay modifications.

Samworth Brothers is a fourth generation family owned premium food producer with over 8,000 employees and 110 years history. Samworth Brothers Distribution was established in the late 1990’s.

Further information for editors:

Buffaload offers the following services:-

• Temperature Controlled Transportation
• Ambient, Chilled and Frozen storage
• Rental of Double Deck Trailers
• Rental of Urban Multi temp trailers
• Temperature Controlled Consolidation with cross dock loading
• Storage and Distribution of High Value and Perishable Goods
• Double Deck loading bay modifications
• Double deck serving and & repairs
• Trailer servicing and repairs
• Fridge repairs
• Emergency Courier Logistics
• Loading Dock modification to accommodate double deck trailer

Buffaload Logistics
Grove Lane
Ellington
Cambridgeshire
PE28 0AA

Tel: 08700 343343
Email: info@buffaload.co.uk
Web: www.buffaload.co.uk

Logistical Support Services, which provides highly secure logistics solutions for the defence and governmental sectors, says its new side-opening Ekeri trailers “tick all the right boxes – every single box”. 

Phil Stone, Managing Director at Logistical Support Services, says that in December 2009 the company bought two single side-loading box trailers that were fully ADR compliant, designed for the carriage of ADR Class 1 cargos.

Stone was so impressed with this first batch of trailers that six months ago the company purchased another two. This time Logistical Support Services opted for EX111 double side opening trailers that were not available in 2009.

“All our work is for the defence industry – so for any high-value, sensitive and ADR products these trailers are superb,” says Stone.

“They are a lovely cross between an easy-to-open curtainsider and a secure box trailer.”

Stone has been impressed by both the design and high-quality workmanship involved in producing an Ekeri trailer.

“When we ordered the first two they flew us out to Kokkola, Finland to visit the factory to see our trailers in the build process – personally I thought it was more like a Formula 1 factory than a trailer factory. It was very high-spec and totally professional as well.”

“I can’t express how impressed I’ve been with them. They are excellent products, built to the highest standards.”

Reliability and security are of the utmost importance to Logistical Support Services because of the nature of its logistics operations. Stone says that the trailers have remote central locking, alarms and GPS tracking devices. “From the security point of view, they are superb.”

Logistical Support Services would buy more Ekeri trailers in the future if they were needed.

“Hopefully yes, we will buy some more,” says Stone. “Let’s put it this way, I would not look to another manufacturer – I believe that other manufacturers have tried offering a similar product but the quality did not match up to Ekeri’s standards.”

Logistical Support Services was founded in 1997 with the sole intention of serving the military and defence industry markets, and from its humble beginnings it has grown into one of the market leaders in the supply and organisation of the specialist logistics field in the totally secure movement of sensitive defence assets throughout the UK, Europe and Scandinavia.

Operating out of the sole use site located on the outskirts of Bristol the company has a fleet of specialist vehicles built to the highest specifications required in order to transport these commodities on a daily basis and in the most secure manner, with Ekeri complementing these requirements.

Ekeri is the leading producer of high quality box trailers and box bodies with side doors. Ekeri has grown steadily and its products are today used all over Europe. The company exports over 70% of its production.

Further Information:-
Contact – Bob Wise
Mobile: 07966 203640

M1 Marketing
39a Meneage Street
Helston
TR13 8RB
Tel: 01326 560400

This year saw the appointment of Fleet Solutions as Service Partner for Krone Trailers. Fleet Solutions MD and founder Brian Balfe explains what lies behind the operation.

Fleet Solutions was established in 1984 and since then has expanded steadily into virtually every aspect of commercial trailer and truck service and support. Now, with over 50 employees, the Clondalkin- based company is renowned as one of Ireland’s foremost trailer service and maintenance specialists.

For Krone Trailers this was an important factor and necessary to provide a premier support service for its fast-expanding customer base in Ireland.

“The partnership is a natural one” says Brian Balfe. The Krone trailer is a top-end product with a no-nonsense specification. Good quality equipment and used by discerning operators throughout Europe. Similarly, Fleet Solutions has a reputation for expert technical back up with modern processes designed to meet the needs of today’s increasingly sophisticated transport and logistics operators”

Sophisticated is certainly one way to describe the way things are done at Fleet Solutions: Brian Balfe explains:

“Many years ago we introduced modern procedures which, using an end-to-end mapping process, enables us to tightly control every job, from the moment it is booked in until the vehicle or trailer is returned to the customer.

“This way, we can ensure consistently high quality and efficiency each time a job is raised. For example, our bespoke-designed administration and mapping system automatically processes each step of every job using a modular process which embraces: booking in, quotation, warranty clearance, parts provision, customer acceptance, production/engineering, quality control, and invoicing. Furthermore,” adds Brian, “our system recognises every previous job, which enables us to quickly inform the customer regarding exact costs and time frames to carry out the work required”

But it’s not all about sophisticated mapping systems. Fleet Solutions’ success also lies in the expertise and experience of its highly trained technicians, who apply their skills across a wide range of services. Brian Balfe again:

“All of our workshop technicians are fully trained and many are specialist in particular areas. Although we are best known for trailer service and refurbishments, we also provide truck maintenance, body shop facilities, tail-lift maintenance, vehicle livery and bespoke curtain manufacturing. And, as an official RSA (Vosa-equivalent) testing station, we of course need to ensure that all workshop employees are kept up to date with the latest regulations and working practices”

One-stop Service Solutions.

Providing a cross section of commercial vehicle services all ‘under one roof’ enables Fleet Solutions to deal with every fleet requirement – from the smallest owner driver one-off jobs, to regular maintenance and repair schedules for the largest tractor and trailer fleets. Leading brands including Krone, Schmitz Cargobull, Jost, BPW, ROR and Meritor are fully supported and operators the length and breadth of Ireland can rely on round-the-clock service and roadside recovery if required.

In brief, the operation comprises a 6 bay trailer repair workshop and 6 bay commercial vehicle repair centre; on-site LCV, HCV and CVR testing centre; NSAI-licensed tachograph, speed limiter and plating facility; tail lift inspection; 3,000 sq.m. parts and components centre; curtain manufacturing facility; shot-blast, painting and refurbishment; mobile service and breakdown vans; fleet scheduling, reporting and budget planning.

For Krone Trailer and all other trailer operators, Fleet Solutions provide a state-of-the-art trailer workshop which employs a ‘pit-stop’ philosophy to ensure fast turn-round and cost effective maintenance and repairs:

• 20ft pit bay for full inspections
• Dedicated ABS & EBS diagnostics bay
• All 6 bays equipped with specially designed trailer lifts and stands
• Retractable airlines and air points at front and rear of each bay
• Three phase and one phase wiring to each bay
• High quality equipment and tools
• In-depth code of practice and procedures adhering to the highest Health & Safety standards

Commercial Vehicle Testing Centre

Fleet Solutions’ commercial vehicle test centre is licensed and regulated by the RSA. “We are also a member of the Vehicle Testing Network, “adds Brian. “ Unlike the National Car Test (NCT), it is mandatory for commercial vehicles to be tested annually. There are two classifications of vehicles: light goods vehicles – up to and including 3500Kgs gross vehicle weight and heavy goods vehicles -above 3500Kgs gross vehicle weight. Given the already diverse nature of our service, it was a natural fit to open the test centre and I’m pleased to say we have been very busy since it opened in 2009”.

The sum of the (trailer) parts

Fleet Solutions is a leading supplier of commercial vehicle spare parts and body components for Jost, Meritor, BPW,SAF, Granning, Wabco, Haldex, Knorr-Bremse, Jonesco and Featherwing. A stock of Krone Trailers’ ‘fast-moving’ parts is kept on site and if any major components should be required then they are despatched from Krone’s central parts depot on a next day basis.

“All-in-all” concludes Brian Balfe, “Fleet Solutions are here to keep Ireland’s commercial transport on the move and of course that includes the increasing number of trailers carrying the Krone badge. No matter whether we are talking curtainsiders, reefers, box vans or skellies, our trailer service is geared to meet and exceed the daily demands of operators across the transport industry”

Contact:

Fleet Solutions
Unit 4D
Besser Drive
Clondalkin Industrial Estate
Clondalkin
Dublin 22
IRELAND

Further Information:

KRONE TRAILERS UK
Peckfield Business Park
Phoenix Avenue
Micklefield
Leeds
LS25 4DY

Tel: +44 (0) 1132 878817
Fax: +44 (0) 1132 878819
E-Mail: trailers@krone-uk.com
Web: www.krone-trailer.com